NHL Winter Classic 2012: Gimmick Grabs Casual Hockey Fans

While some may be sick of the NHL's annual Winter Classic, the gimmick still succeeds at grabbing the attention of casual hockey fans.

I only watch five, maybe six regular season games per year. And every year, since its inception in 2008, one of those games is the Winter Classic.

I'm not entirely sure why, but there's something mesmerizing about outdoor hockey. The sport is always fast-paced and exciting, but the element of nature makes it seem much more pure.

The annual event has also been incredibly successful for the NHL, so don't expect it to go away anytime soon.

The first Winter Classic game, held in Buffalo, brought an NHL-record 71,217 fans to the stadium. The 2009 game in Chicago drew the most American viewers for a hockey game in over 30 years. The novelty has worn off a bit over the last two years, but casual hockey fans are still lured in.

The NHL deserves a lot of credit for the teams they put on display in their yearly showcase.

Today's matchup between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers should draw huge ratings because of the teams' talent level and market size.

The Rangers are in the league's largest market, while the Flyers aren't far behind.

Both teams are also currently sitting at or near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. With stars Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell, Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan lighting up scoreboards, it's easy to see why.

Both teams are in the top 10 in goals per game, which means we could be in for a high-scoring affair. I'm predicting a 3-2 victory for New York, but regardless of the outcome, this game will definitely be a pleasure to watch.